Chapter 4
Darcy
Fitzwilliam Darcy was furious with Miss Bingley. And with himself, too.
He wanted to protect Georgiana, of course. That was his first priority, always.
But there was protecting her reputation, generally, amongst the ton, and the family, and wider society, and then there was protecting her right this minute as she felt overwhelmed by Miss Bingley’s unwanted, fawning attention—and as she was overcome by her own shyness.
If Miss Bingley were a man, a man grabbing his sister’s arm and practically dragging her across the room, Darcy would rush to his sister’s side and demand that she be released and no further importuned.
Everyone in the room would be supportive of him for acting thus, as Georgiana’s brother and guardian.
And if Miss Bingley were a man, it was very likely that such an action would be effective, given Darcy’s height, strength, and consequence.
Although Darcy had never challenged anyone to a duel, and he intended to never do so, most gentlemen knew of his unbroken string of fencing victories at Angelo’s, and of his reputation as an excellent marksman on a hunt—and they would back down in actual fear for their lives.
But…Miss Bingley was a woman, and she was the sister of his host and longtime friend.
Darcy felt frozen, shocked that polite drawing-room manners were being bent into such bullying actions.
He wondered again what power Miss Bingley thought she wielded over him.
And he pondered what on earth he could possibly do or say to counter her actions, to ensure his sister’s long-term reputation as well as her short-term comfort.
Darcy shot a look at Elizabeth, and he felt a sort of jolt as she seemed to understand that he needed someone—her, really—to do something.
And…Miss Elizabeth did it! She spoke up, and offered his sister a way out of having to perform solo. Somehow, she managed the situation so that Georgiana was with her, instead of Miss Bingley, so that his sister was giggling instead of frightened.
He felt himself falling further in debt to the lovely Elizabeth.
And further into the feeling that it was hard to do anything at all other than think about this woman. He found her so very distracting, so very attractive, so very…everything.